Former Soviet Union:
Frequently Asked Questions
about our Mission to the FSU
- Where do JHI missions go?
- What will I do on a mission?
- How do I prepare for a mission?
- What if I don't speak the country’s language?
- How many Lectures and/or Seminars will I need to prepare?
- Who will I be lecturing to?
- How many patients will I treat each day?
- How should I dress?
- Do you have to be Jewish to go on a JHI mission?
- I'm not very religious. Will religion be "forced" on me?
- Will I be able to go to synagogue on Shabbat?
- Will I be able to find kosher food?
- What are the living conditions like in Eastern Europe/ former Soviet Union? Will we have running water? Electricity? Phone? Computer access?
- Who will help me in the city?
1. Where do JHI missions go?
Currently, JHI sites include Chisinau, Moldova; Odessa, Ukraine; Minsk, Belarus; Riga, Latvia; and Kiev, Ukraine.
Top2. What will I do on a mission?
- Deliver lectures and seminars
- Make visits to clients’ homes
- Provide second opinion consultations
- Visit local medical institutions
- Evaluate community needs and make recommendations for future missions
- Attend daily JHI team meetings to summarize and plan for future programming
- Experience Jewish life and Jewish Renaissance of the community
- Experience local cultural activities
3. How do I prepare for a mission?
As soon as you are confirmed on a mission you will receive a detailed packet with the materials required to complete the following tasks.
- Get your visa (if going to Belarus, other sites do not need visas)
- Purchase your airline ticket
- Prepare lectures and submit detailed abstracts according to your site requirements
- Review background information on your host country
- Connect with past JHI mission participants to your site (JHI staff will provide you with contact information upon request)
JHI staff is always available. You should be totally comfortable that you always have a resource and backup team
Top4. What if I don't speak the country’s language?
- We provide translators.
5. How many Lectures and/or Seminars will I need to prepare?
The seminars that you will be presenting are an integral part of your mission. Most healthcare professionals are asked to present 2-5 lectures. JHI will provide you with a list of suggested topics provided by the site, and also ask you to propose topics that you would like to lecture on. At most sites, there are slide projectors, overhead projectors and/or PowerPoint projectors. Keep in mind that a translator will be translating your lecture so, to allow time for translation during a 90-minute lecture, you will only be able to present about 45-60 minutes worth of material.
Top6. Who will I be lecturing to?
You will be lecturing to groups of doctors, nurses, medical students and homecare workers. Based on the audience, lectures should vary in their level of expertise and sophistication. JHI staff will guide you in determining appropriateness of lecture.
The homecare workers are volunteers or low-paid workers with varying degrees of medical background and no medical authority. Lectures to these homecare workers are on a basic level, and provide information on how these workers can help improve the quality of life of the homebound.
Lectures to doctors are at a higher and more sophisticated level. Lectures for physicians might also be attended by department heads, academy professors and other medical staff in your area of specialty. These lectures serve as advanced training to practicing physicians (ie: continuing medical education) and should be at an advanced level.
The level of training of nurses varies from site to site. In most cases, nurses have two years of post-secondary training. JHI will guide you in appropriate level of lectures for nurses based on the specific community.
7. How many patients will I treat each day?
JHI focuses on training and educating the healthcare professionals in our host communities. The long-term impact of establishing a stronger medical infrastructure in the community is much greater than treating individual patients. However, all missions include home visit and second opinion consultations, so you will interact with local patients. These activities give you insight into medical infrastructure and are not designed with a treatment approach.
Top8. How should I dress?
Dress on missions is comfortable, yet professional. Men should take one or two ties; you will not need to wear them every day. Women can wear pants, but should have at least one dress or skirt. A white coat is recommended.
Top9. Do you have to be Jewish to go on a JHI mission?
No, JHI is a non-sectarian organization and both Jewish and non-Jewish healthcare professionals participate on JHI missions. Mission participation is based on several criteria: expertise in requested medical specialty; presentation/lecturing skills; mentoring/training experience; Federation and/or community involvement is also considered.
10. I'm not very religious. Will religion be "forced" on me?
No, you will have an opportunity to experience the Jewish community but no formal ritual observance is required or expected.
Top11. Will I be able to go to synagogue on Shabbat?
Most of our missions include participation in a community Kabbalat Shabbat program (a ceremony welcoming the Sabbath, which varies from community to community) and dinner on Friday night. Shabbat services at a local Synagogue on Saturday morning are available for those who wish to attend.
Top12. Will I be able to find kosher food?
Some sites are able to provide kosher food. Those that can not provide kosher food are able to serve a vegetarian menu.
Top13. What are the living conditions like in Eastern Europe/ former Soviet Union? Will we have running water? Electricity? Phone? Computer access?
You will be staying in a moderate "tourist class" hotel (two or three stars) with your fellow mission participants. Although not always luxurious, the hotels do provide the basics: running water, electricity, heat and phone and most have internet access. Many cities have Internet cafes, where, for a small fee, you can use a computer with Internet access.
Top14. Who will help me in the city?
JHI employs a coordinator in each site. This individual is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the mission in their community. The coordinator will meet you at the airport and will arrange for all transportation throughout the mission. The JHI coordinator will accompany you to your lectures and other community activities.
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